Uhuru, Raila, CJ share platform at ACK celebrations

President Uhuru Kenyatta, National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga and Chief Justice (CJ) David Maraga graced ACK fete for the first time yesterday after an acrimonious repeat presidential election.

During the occasion, the symbolic head of the Anglican Church worldwide, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, made a passionate appeal for reconciliation and cohesion in Kenya to cool the current political heat.

Annulled poll

The three met for the first time after the contested August 8 General Election, which the CJ annulled on September 1 and ordered for a fresh presidential pollwhich was held on October 26.

Raila, however, boycotted the contest that Uhuru went on to win and declared President-elect by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The three met at the All Saints’ Cathedral Church in Nairobi during a celebration service to mark 100 years since the inception of the Anglican Church in Kenya.

Welby said Kenya was a free country where people could argue, go to court but the bottom line should be unity and peace.

“I am not calling for mediation but for the need for the leaders to embrace reconciliation and the urgent capacity for Kenya and other nations to resolve differences amicably,” he said.

The cleric said Kenya has been an exemplary country with a rich history of peace and unity since independence despite many challenges, hence the need to continue being that country that overrides divisions through reconciliation.

“Kenya has a rich history of peace and unity in Africa. There have been disagreements but how they are dealt with is what matters and we need Kenya to be an example of reconciliation; be that unusual country that overrides all challenges for the common good,” he said adding that people might resort to deeper hostilities if leaders don’t reconcile them.

Uhuru said he had heard the message of reconciliation and hoped “every single person in this congregation has heard it”.

Yesterday was also the first time Uhuru and Raila were seen together after the Nasa leader boycotted the contentious repeat presidential election.